Abstract

In general, in the current programs of the Optics courses for the different teaching levels the diffraction and interference phenomena are included. The depth degree of the corresponding explanations depends on the mathematical knowledge of the students. Still in the basic university level, in our means, these tools don't allow the presentation of complete explanations based on the theory of the coherence and/or the scalar theory of the diffraction. However, as corollary of the treatment of those topics it is habitual, in the last years, the presentation of the subject of holography like application example and like a way to integrate the concepts of coherence, interference, diffraction and imaging formation, although this last aspect is only demonstrated by the practical experience. As an intermediate step, with the purpose of reinforcing the idea of the imaging formation for diffraction (Fourier images), it is interesting to show and to discuss self-imaging phenomena and some of their applications, before presenting the holography. The employment of this strategy in courses of professors' formation is commented.

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